Pneumatic system for control of windows.



No.a864,551. PATBNTEDAmUG.27,1907' J. B. MoKEOWN.

' PNEUMATIC SYSTEM FOR CONTROL OF WINDOWS.

1 APPLICATION FILED 1w. :1, 1007.

JOSEPH B. MeKEOWN, OF UNION HILL, NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATIC SYSTEM FOR CONTROL OF WINDOWS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1907.

Application filed January 21, 1907. Serial No. 353,243.

To all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, JosnPH B. MoKEowN, a citizen of the United States, residing at 387'Bullsferry road, Union Hill, county of Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Systems for Control of Windows, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same. I

The object of this invention is to furnish an effective and reliable means of closing a series of window sashes in an apartment, whenever the temperature rises above the desired limit adjacent to any of the said windows.

In this invention, each of the sashes is overbalanced so as to normally close, and is provided with a brake to hold it open, the brake being held in an operative position by a piston having air under pressure operating normally upon it so as to keep the windows open so long as the air pressure is maintained. The pistons are connected by a series of pipes held normally closed and filled with air under the pressure necessary to operate the brakes, and having branches over the several Windows which are closed by a suitable fitting, as a plug or cap, made of fusible'metal. An elevation of temperature sufiicient to melt such fitting over any of the windows discharges the air pressure from the entire system of pipes, and thus releases all of the brakes so that they cease to hold the windows open; and the windows are closed by their own weights.

By the use of air under pressure, the system is free from nearly all operative mechanism, and possesses no parts which are liable to stick fast for want of lubrication, or can be affected by freezing or any abnormal temperature except that sufficient to melt the fusible fitting.

Diaphragm pistons are preferably employed, as a very slight movement of the piston is required to operate the brake connection with each sash, and such pistons are illustrated in the annexed drawing, although bored cylinders with reciprocating pistons may be used if preferred.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a diagram showing a group of three windows provided with the improvement; Fig. 2 is a cross section, where hatched, on line 2, 2, in Fig. 1, showing the diaphragm box supported removably in a fixture upon the sash; Fig. 3 is a cross section, where hatched, on line 3, 3, in Fig. 2, only the casing and socket for the diaphragm box being shown in section; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section, where hatched, of one corner of a window casing with sliding sash, and fixtures for pressing a brake upon the cord of the sash-weight.

a, a and (1 in Fig. 1 designate three windows representing a series which may be extended to a large number of windows in a single apartment, or adjacent apartments.

b are pivoted sashes, and b a sliding sash.

c is a brake-wheel attached to the pivot c of the pivoted sash, and d a bracket upon the window-casing containing a socket d to receive a diaphragm box 6. A diaphragm f is movable in the diaphragm box and a piston-rod g is extended from the same to operate the brakeblock.

In Figs. 2 and 3,1. the brake-block h is shown fitted" movably in a chamber 2' upon the bracket, between the piston-rod g and the brake-wheel, so that air pressure upon the diaphrgam holds the brake forcibly against the brake-wheel and retains the sash in any adjusted position. The system of pipes for operating the diaphragms comprises a main pipe j with branches k extended to the diaphragm box upon each Windowcasing, and each of such branches provided with a fusible cap or fitting 1 adapted to melt at the desired limit of temperature.

An air reservoir m is shown in Fig. 1, with a force pump 11 to produce and maintain the required pressure in the air-pipes, an inlet check-valve 0 being shown connected with the pump. To facilitate the mounting of a diaphragm box upon each windowcasing, the socket d in the bracket (Z is made open upon the top, and is shaped to admit the flanges of the diaphragm box and hold it normally with its piston-rod g opposite the center of the brake-block h. A

seat is shown upon the outer end of the brake-block to receive the impact of the piston-rod y when the ,diaphragm box is adjusted in place and suitably connected by its branch k to the system of pipes. This construction readily permits, by the detachment of any of the branches, the removal and examination of the diaphragm box, and the convenient renewal of the diaphragm, or other repairs that may be required.

In Fig' 1, the casing (1 upon the sliding sash is shown provided with a transverse spindle 3) having a crank q thereon with which the piston-rod is connected to press a brake-block upon a sash cord. The brakeblock is shown in Fig. 4 as an eccentric h which is opposed by an abutment p, and the sash cord 1' is extended between the same. The sash weight 8 is proportioned to normally close the sliding sash b, but is restrained from doing so as long as the pressure upon the diaphragm turns the eccentric brake-block toward the abutment 0.

2. The combination, with a series of windows each having a self-closing sash and a brake for holding the sash open, of a pneumatic diaphragm piston for each of said brakes with piston-rod connected to said brake, a system of closed pipes filled with air normally under pressure connecting all of the said piston diaphragms, and having a branch over each of said windows closed by a fusible fitting, as a plug or cap, to discharge the air pressure in the system of pipes at a pre-determined temperature.

3. The combination, with a series of windows having over-balanced pivoted sashes arranged to close themselves and having upon the pivot a brake-wheel, a brake-block fitted movably in the window-casing to press upon the brake-wheel, a diaphragm piston mounted adjacent to the bra'ieblock with connection to such block, a system of clo'ed pipes filled with air normally under pressure connecting all of the said diaphragm pistons, and having a branch over each of said windows closed by a fusible fitting, as a plug or cap, to discharge the air pressure in I the system of pipes at a pre-determined temperature. l

4. The combination, with a series of windows having over-balanced pivoted sashes arranged to close themselves and having upon the pivot a brakewvhee'l, a brake-block fitted movably in the window-casing to press upon the brake-Wheel, a fixture attached to the window-casing and having a socket to support a diaphragm box, a diaphragm box fitted detachably to the said socket with piston-rod to engage the said brake-block, a system of closed pipes filled with air normally under .pressure connecting all of the said diaphragm pistons, and having a branch over each of said windows closed by a fusible fitting, as a plug or cap, to discharge the air pressure in the system of pipes at a pre-determined temperature.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH B. MCKEOWN.

Witnesses:

L. LEE, THOMAS S. CRANE. 

